Hackers have been the most common source of nightmares for small businesses and freelancers who rely actively on digital communications and connections to generate an income. For students building up a side hustle business as a way of supporting their lifestyle and making ends meet, the last thing you want in your venture is a hacker corrupting your files and data. Indeed, cyber criminals prefer small businesses as their structure is more vulnerable to attacks. A large institution would, typically, be hard work for them to hack. As a result, many small and lesser experienced hackers start their criminal journey with easy targets, aka you.
Stopping hackers can be challenging. But let’s get one thing cleared out from the start. While we’ve all read about the importance of secure passwords that nobody can guess, typically, a hacker will not need a password to access your system. Indeed, they identify a weakness in your IT setup and use it as an entry point. In other words, your choice of password is fairly irrelevant. Instead, you need to pay close attention to potential threat situations:
You don’t see suspicious activity until it’s too late
Ideally, you want your system to be able to recognize suspicious events and offer a proactive response. Indeed, secure browsing relies on the ability to identify and stop threats before they can become dangerous to your data. When you can’t afford to work with an IT security team, you can find an effective alternative that isolates every digital data before it reaches you and projects only harmless elements to your endpoint. A remote virtual browser, for instance, can act as a shield against threats, as hacked documents and files with potentially harmful codes are isolated from your system. If you are worried about the risks of downloading files, for instance, a browsing solution that creates a virtual platform to intercept and check everything you receive.
Don’t take unnecessary risks online
Admittedly, even with a dedicated solution to keep your data safe, it’s fair to say that you should always remain cautious. You can’t afford to take inconsiderate risks when it comes to technology. Indeed, hackers never stop innovating, which means that while you’re protected against their scams and tricks today, there’s no guarantee about tomorrow. Keep your eyes open for the latest digital threats so that you can avoid unnecessary risks. Additionally, while passwords should not be your first line of protection, you should make sure to use them appropriately. For instance, it’(s good practice to change the password of your software tools when an employee/helper quits.
The public WiFi network is NOT your friend
It’s not uncommon for small businesses to rely on public workplaces to stay productive. As a student running a side hustle, for instance, you’re more likely to work in your local cafe shop – because it’s got a great brew and free WiFi. However, you should be cautious when it comes to public and free WiFi hotspots. Indeed, the public network makes you more vulnerable to hackers who can infiltrate your information by positioning themselves between your device and your connection point.
Caution is your best friend when you’re trying to stop hackers. It’s best to take preventive measures to keep your small venture secure than to react to breaches when you are working on a tight budget and schedule!
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